It
should be known that God put good and evil into the nature of
man. Thus, He said in the Qur'an: "We
led him along the two paths." 36He further said: "And inspired (the soul)
with its wickedness as well as its fear of God." 37

Evil is the quality that is closest to man when he fails
to improve his customs and (when) religion is not used as the model to
improve, him. The great mass of mankind is in that condition, with the
exception of those to whom God gives success. Evil 38
qualities in man are injustice and mutual aggression. He who casts his
eye upon the property of his brother will lay his hand upon it to take
it, unless there is a restraining influence to hold him back. The poet
thus said:

Mutual aggression of people in towns and cities is
averted by the authorities and the government, which hold back the
masses under their control from attacks and aggression upon each other.
They are thus prevented by the influence of force and governmental
authority from mutual injustice, save such injustice as comes from the
ruler himself.

Aggression against a city from outside may be averted by
walls, in the event of negligence,40a surprise attack at night, or inability (of
the inhabitants) to withstand the enemy during the day. (Or,) it may be
averted with the help of a militia of government auxiliary troops, if
(the inhabitants are otherwise) prepared and ready to offer
resistance.

The 41restraining influence among Bedouin tribes
comes from their shaykhs and leaders. It results from the great
respect and veneration they generally enjoy among the people. The
hamlets of the Bedouins are defended against outside enemies by a tribal
militia composed of noble youths of the tribe

who are known for their courage. Their defense and protection
are successful only if they are a closely-knit group 42of common descent. This strengthens their stamina and
makes them feared, since everybody's affection for his family and his
group is more important (than anything else). Compassion and affection
for one's blood relations and relatives exist in human nature as
something God put into the hearts of men. It makes for mutual support
and aid, and increases the fear felt by the enemy.

This may be exemplified by the story in the Qur'an about
Joseph's brothers. They said to their father: "If the wolf eats him,
while we are a group, then, indeed, we have lost out." 43
This means that one cannot imagine any hostile act being undertaken
against anyone who has his group feeling to support him.

Those who have no one of their own lineage (to care for)
rarely feel affection for their fellows. If danger is in the air on the
day of battle, such a one slinks away and seeks to save himself, because
he is afraid of being left without support 44
and dreads (that prospect). Such people, therefore, cannot live in the
desert, because they would fall prey to any nation that might want to
swallow them up.

If this is true with regard to the place where one lives,
which is in constant need of defense and military protection, it is
equally true with regard to every other human activity, such as
prophecy, the establishment of royal authority, or propaganda (for a
cause). Nothing can be achieved in these matters without fighting for
it, since man has the natural urge to offer resistance. And for fighting
one cannot do without group feeling, as we mentioned at the beginning.
This should be taken as the guiding principle of our later exposition.